The controversy stems from Palhares failing to immediately release the heel hook hold that he used to finish Pierce when the fighter tapped out.

The Brazilian Athletic Commission of MMA (CABMMA) on Friday informed MMAWeekly.com that it has issued Palhares a 120-day suspension. The UFC deemed Palhares ineligible for a $50,000 Submission of the Night bonus at the event, and on Thursday fired him.

CABMMA stated that Palhares’ suspension would be served following any medical suspension he might receive. The UFC Fight Night 29 medical suspensions have yet to be issued. The commission also took into account that Palhares has been suspended for a similar action in the past. The New Jersey Athletic Control Board suspended him for 90 days following UFC 111, when it was deemed that he didn’t appropriately release his submission of Tomasz Drwal.

CABMMA issued the following statement:

After detailed analysis of the conduct of Rousimar Palhares in his bout, at the event “UFC Fight Night” held on October 9, 2013 at the City of Barueri (SP), we communicate the suspension of the athlete for a period of 120 (one hundred and twenty) days, counted as from the end of the period of his medical suspension. The determination of the suspension period considered, among other aspects, the fact that this is not his first anti sportsmanship attitude of the same nature.